Chamber honors medical workers

A nurse who saved a neighbor's life and a physical therapist who works with burn victims are among award recipients.

Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2003

The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce honored "behind the scenes" medical workers at the Health Care Spotlight Awards Banquet on Tuesday at the Park Plaza Tampa Airport Westshore hotel. The winners are:

CHARLA MOYE, Nurse of the Year: Moye is a registered nurse in the cardiac care unit of Tampa General Hospital. Recognized by the American Red Cross, she met President George W. Bush as a result of her heroic actions. On Nov. 6, 2001, a driver passed out at the wheel and ran into Moye's neighbors, a father and three children, as they played in their yard. Moye saved her 7-year old neighbor's life by delivering CPR.

ROBERT GLASS, Caregiver of the Year: Glass is a chaplain at LifePath Hospice. A Vietnam War Air Force veteran, Glass was drawn to the hospice mission after caring for his ailing grandparents. He spends his days ministering to grieving families. Once a year, he hosts a weekend bereavement camp for children.

YOLANDA COLE, Rehabilitation Worker of the Year: Cole is an early intervention speech pathologist at Easter Seals Florida, with a private practice as well. She works with children who have special developmental needs and their families and is a member of the Easter Seals President's Council.

CHRISTINE "CHRIS' ROOS, Volunteer of the Year: Roos has been a LifePath Hospice volunteer since early 2000. She joined the hospice program after it helped her and her dying husband. In 2002, Roos helped launch Life's Treasures, a thrift store to benefit hospice patients and families. She clocked more than 2,000 volunteer hours in the store last year.

FRANK VANSICKLE, Licensed Technician of the Year: VanSickle, a team leader in the fast-paced cardiac catheterization lab at University Community Hospital, is described as a calming force. He has kept the lab at the cutting edge of technology while finding ways to save money and improve patient care.

STAFF SGT. SEAN TOBIN, Support Services of the Year: Tobin works in the nutritional medicine department at MacDill Air Force Base. He has built a diet/drug interaction database to identify possible harmful interactions between foods and certain drugs. He has also revamped the patient menu, incorporating Florida dishes with Latin influences.

CARLA C. RUDY, Courage Award: Rudy, a physical therapist in the Tampa General Hospital Burn Unit, works in the painful world of rehabilitating burn victims. She also joins Tampa firefighters at a weeklong camp where burned children engage in normal activities such as fishing and going to the beach.

GAIL MARTINETTO, Humanitarian of the Year: A registered nurse at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital, Martinetto has worked as a nurse for 32 years. Recently, when her co-worker and best friend needed a kidney transplant, Martinetto volunteered.

LYNDA WALKER, Determination Award: A social worker in pediatric oncology at All Children's Hospital, Walker is the only licensed clinical social worker in that department. For 20 years, she has helped children diagnosed with cancer or a blood disorder.

VICKIE DAKIN, Chamber Award: Dakin, coordinator of the pediatric therapy team at Tampa General Hospital, teamed with a patient's mother and the city of Tampa to raise funds for a playground for special needs children.